As the smell of baking bread wafts around the audience, Jean-Daniel (JD) Broussé’s first solo show offers a similar tantalising temptation. Well-known internationally as one half of the hugely successful Nikki & JD acro duo (Knot), JD was born to inherit the French bakery passed down through four generations of his family.
But JD studied Medieval History and Modern Literature in France and then Circus Arts in London. He will not follow his father, or his father’s father or his father’s father’s father into the family bakery. JD is not going to bake cakes. Or Bread. Or will he?
A play on the French word for bread and the English word for suffering, in (le) pain we follow JD forced to choose between continuing the family legacy or pursuing his dreams as a performer. (le) Pain is about breadmaking, physical heroics, growing up queer in a boulangerie in the south of France, endings and new beginnings. Directed by Ursula Martinez, this innovative and refreshing show involves circus, dance, storytelling, Béarnaise folklore, video, karaoke and laughter.
After all these years, I finally got to put my French and Theatre degree to perfect use! quips director Ursula Martinez.
